Hellmode ~A Hardcore Gamer Becomes Peerless in Another World with Retro Game Settings~

A few days passed since Ignomas called them to the palace.

"Do I really look good in these clothes?"

Allen's father, Rodan, could not keep still wearing better clothes than he was accustomed to, so he spoke to Gerda, Kurena's father.

"Hm? I guess it's fine? Don't ask me that."

Gerda did not sound particularly interested.

"I think it suits you very well, dear."

Allen's mother Theresia joined in.

That seemed to make Rodan relax a little, maybe he had simply wanted to be praised a little.

Michilda, Kurena's mother, just shook her head a little.

They were all in room in Latash's royal palace. Rodan and Gerda's family, as well as Dogora's parents were there.

The house of Grandvelle, Kiel, Nina, and Merle were also there.

Viscount Grandvelle and Duke Hamilton were there too.

They had all been brought there so they could be awarded their rewards, thanking them for their valiant efforts in defending the Holy Land from the Evil Cult.

The reward was being given to Kurena, Cecile, Dogora, and Kiel, who had helped the Holy Land. The Five Continents' Alliance had pressured Latash into doing that, as they had helped the world greatly.

Doberg, who had been fighting the Demon King's Army, had also become a marquis in a similar fashion.

That was even more reason for Latash's king to reward those other four.

Allen had been born in Latash too, but he was currently attached to Rosenheim.

He held the high position of Chief of Staff in Rosenheim.

That meant Rosenheim should be the ones rewarding him, but Allen had told Rosenheim's Queen that he did not want any reward, as long as they would help him if he ever needed it.

Merle was from Baukis, and she had already been rewarded there, becoming a baron.

That meant her family had gone from being lower ranking soldiers and stepped into nobility, which made her and her family quite happy.

Still, Rodan was in the room too.

He was there to be rewarded for a reason unrelated to the Holy Land and the Evil Cult.

When he became the chief of Rodan Village, he started wearing much better clothes compared to his days as a serf, but now he wore even more gaudy clothing as he was invited by the king.

This was something so new he could not help feel out of place and uncomfortable.

"Allen is late, it's almost time for this."

Cecile kept looking between Allen's parents and a clock magic device, frowning.

Cecile had arrived there the night before.

She had something to discuss with Viscount Grandvelle who was serving in the palace.

"Sorry, I was a little held up."

(I was still looking at how my summons could be used in battle. Also, Basque looked really lively, I wonder when I'll surpass his level.)

He finally appeared, together with Sophie, Formar, and Shea.

They had all gotten rid of their merman disguise before teleporting there.

"Hey, you're late. Wait, Peromus didn't come?"

"Yeah, Peromus finally got access to the palace's accounting book. He's looking through it to see if he can find anything that could be of value there."

They had finally obtained permission to freely enter and leave the palace from Ignomas, so Peromus was looking through their accounting books, seeing what highly valuable items they could trade with the surface

"That's a strange thing to get obsessed over."

Cecile said with a somewhat bored voice.

"Well, he is risking his life there after all."

They had successfully gained Ignomas' trust and were allowed to enter the palace, and that made Peromus feel like he was one step closer to marrying Fiona.

Peromus' goal was to obtain Makris' Tear, as he had promised Fiona, so he would do anything in his power which would bring him closer to accomplish that.

On the other hand, Allen's Insect A and Dragon A summons he had on the north of the Central Continent had started to decrease in number.

He was dealing with that, which delayed him from picking up Shea and the rest.

Allen had sent Insect A and Dragon A summons to the Central Continent, to make a front against the Demon King's Army's territory and slowly take it back, but that plan was not going too smoothly.

Somehow there was an increased number of Demon Great Generals there, which were faster and stronger than the summons.

Basque was also there, who had recently become a Demon Great General, and seemed to be a key part of the Demon King's Army now.

Allen had tried changing his strategy and tactics, but the enemies were too powerful.

He really wanted to go there himself, but his hands were full with the issues of Prostia.

(Sinorom doesn't seem to be staying in the palace, but he's clearly suspicious.)

All the things he still had to do in Prostia was one of the reasons why Allen did not go to the Central Continent.

He had tried searching for Sinorom, who Princess Rapsonile pointed to as a suspect, but he could not find Sinorom in the palace.

When he asked the person keeping track of those visiting the palace, he was told that sometimes Sinorom simply would appear to vanish.

According to Princess Rapsonile, it was common for him to shut himself inside his research labs and not come out for days.

"Brother Allen!"

He was thinking of sending Merus there instead, even though he was still taking his earned break, when Allen's little sister Muras spoke to him.

She was smiling brightly. She had grown a lot, nearing her tenth birthday.

Allen made sure to always have at least one summon in Rodan Village, so he could see her basically every day, but it had been a long time since she saw her brother.

He reacted by patting Muras' head.

"It's been a while too, Mash. Did you get to take a break?"

"Yes. My homeroom teacher said it's okay. I've been in the capital since two days ago."

Mash had used a magic ship to travel from the Academy City to the capital.

"I see."

There was a base of Allen's Army in the Academy City too, but Mash was still a first year student, so they did not interact much.

Unlike Thomas who needed help to undergo his Talent Change, Mash was going to dungeons together with his classmates from the Academy.

But he was clearly growing and maturing, being able to board a magic ship on his own and make his way to the capital without help.

(Well, I guess it's about time I tell them about the Demon King. I haven't told dad yet either.)

Allen had still not told his parents about the Demon King,

He felt like it would be ideal to take care of everything first, and then tell them about everything afterwards so they would not have to worry needlessly.

But now he was doubtful whether he could defeat the Demon King before Mash started learning about the Demon King's history at the Academy.

There was a fierce battle going on in the northern regions of the Central Continent too.

(I feel like my parents have started to notice something too, but they aren't saying anything. I wonder if this is how Mihai felt too.)

Allen was in such a strenuous situation, but Rodan did not say anything.

When invited to the palace, Rodan had been told Allen had saved the world from the Evil Cult, but he did not even mention that.

Something similar had already happened in the past.

Many weird things happened when they found out about Allen's Summoner Talent, but they did not ask anything.

He felt like Cecile's older brother Mihai had left to the frontlines without telling her anything because he did not want his sister worrying.

If he completed his three years of service, he could act like nothing happened.

But Cecile would also have to eventually go to the frontlines.

There were such conflicting issues going on, and he still left without saying anything.

Allen's parents would probably just wait until Allen felt comfortable telling them.

He felt like he would wait for a moment when Mash and Muras were around keeping Theresia smiling, and he could tell them without startling them.

"Hey, what's wrong? Why are you making that face Kiel?"

Cecile spoke, noticing Kiel looked somewhat stressed next to her.

"Oh, it's nothing. Just wondering if this really was a good idea."

"Brother…"

Hearing that, Kiel's little sister Nina also sounded worried.

"Don't worry about it. I've already spoken with Cecile about it."

Viscount Grandvelle stepped in, telling Kiel that they already spoke about it the night before.

"Thank you very much for bearing with my selfishness."

"Nobles have to bear responsibility for their actions. We'll respect your wishes, Lord Kiel. Not to mention that this will resolve all the bad blood between your families."

Duke Hamilton, who had been working to restore Kiel's noble family, also had no issues.

He seemed to approve of Kiel's decision.

"I know. Thank you for all your help, Duke Hamilton."

There was a knock on the door shortly after that.

No one would dare enter the room without asking first, considering how many nobles were inside.

"Everyone who's been called to the audience hall please head there promptly."

An official entered the room and announced that.

It was time for the audiences to start.

Those called were Allen, Sophie, Merle, Shea, and Viscount Grandvelle.

Theresia and Kurena's parents would not enter the audience hall, merely waiting in that same room.

Allen hurried to take clothes from his Inventory and changed his drenched clothes.

Then he followed the officers who took them to the audience hall.

The other nobles had already started filling their posts in the audience hall.

Many of them turned to look at Allen the moment he entered.

His name had gotten rather popular.

Allen headed towards Viscount Grandvelle, who had entered the audience hall first, and then Sophie, Shea, and Merle who changed in a separate room followed them.

(Somehow I feel like I've been entering audience halls a lot more often lately.)

He still remembered how Ignomas called him before, and he had to enter his throne room.

It seemed like he was having meetings with the rulers of countries more often.

Though Allen felt like boss rooms in dungeons were far more exciting than audience halls or throne rooms.

Soon after the Prime Minister entered through a different entrance, located near the throne.

There were special entrances used only by the Prime Minister and the king.

"His Majesty the King will start the ceremony then."

Everything was in place for the ceremony.

A short delay after the Prime Minister announced that, knights brought those being rewarded forward.

Rodan was in front of everyone.

"Hey, is that Allen's father?"

"He looks pretty normal."

"Hm? His hair is a different color too, do you think he's just Allen's foster father?"

There were other types of mumblings about Rodan.

He looked like an average man in his thirties, if maybe a somewhat musculous one.

Allen decided he would tell Theresia, Mash, and Muras who were not there, about everything that happened in the audience hall.

Rodan was brought forward, and then everyone had to wait a bit more before the king arrived.

Eventually the king appeared through his entrance.

The chattering became even more loud when that happened.

(Huh? Is that person supposed to verify Kiel receives a proper reward then?)

The knights also brought forward a Cardinal of Elmea's Church, wearing a luxurious robe.

"So that's a cardinal."

"I heard he's been waiting in the capital for more than a month until this ceremony happened."

"Oh, I think I heard that's also because this is the first time a pope is born outside the Holy Land, except for the founding pope."

"Wait so the rumors are true? That blondie is the next pope?"

"H-hey, don't point like that! The church might disappear you."

A noble pointed at Kiel, and the noble next to him quickly swatted the first one's hand away.

A cardinal of Elmea's Church's, the second most powerful role there, had come to Latash to make sure Kiel received a suitable reward from the king.

But Kiel did not seem to hear any of that.

He seemed deep in thought, staring at the thick decorative carpet on the floor.

Tension rose in the audience hall as the ceremony started.